Liverpool will have their work cut out if they’re to take another step closer to defending their Carabao Cup.
A quarter-final tie against Southampton isn’t the trickiest. With Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester Unite, Newcastle, Brentford and Crystal Palace still in the competition, the Reds have been handed the kindest draw possible.
But it is no gimme despite the Saints’ struggles since their promotion back to the top flight. Liverpool had to battle to a 3-2 win over the Premier League’s basement side less than a month ago. And as they prepare for another trip to St Mary’s, Arne Slot has a paucity of defenders available.
Some fans will be pleased that Andy Robertson’s suspension for his red card in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Fulham will be enforced in the Carabao Cup rather than next weekend’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur. The Premier League title race takes priority.
Nevertheless, it leaves head coach Slot with just four senior defenders who will be available against Southampton. The Dutchman looks set to be without a senior left-back with Robertson banned and Kostas Tsimikas still recovering from an ankle injury. Meanwhile, right full-back Conor Bradley has a hamstring issue and centre-half Ibrahima Konate has a knee problem.
Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah appear to be the only options available to face Southampton. It was Gomez who switched to the left-hand side after Robertson’s dismissal and it is a position he is familiar with. But Slot may have been eyeing rests for Van Dijk, who has been ever-present in the Premier League and Champions League, and Alexander-Arnold on the south coast.
There’s no doubt Slot and his coaching staff will have already given some thought to who could feature at left-back. In truth, Slot could turn to the under-21s and there would be one standout candidate.